Melchtal Things to Do

The home to the Benedictine Monastery Convent of St. Niklaus von Flüe, named after the hermit Brother Nicklaus. He was known to Confederates over the years as one of the noblest patriotic figures, as a "national saint". Marked by the spirit of reconciliation and agreement, he exerted his pacifist influence over Swiss politics throughout his life. And it is for this very influence that the person and work of "Brother Klaus" is revered across denominational barriers. Until his fifties, Nicolas of Flue led a full life. He was a farmer, a father to ten children and, what’s more, he acted as councilor, judge, deputy to the Diets and officer. He was a member of a well-to-do family in the canton and it was often said that he would become governor. Just before the beginning of his presumed career as statesman, two particular characteristics, fairly discreet up until that point, abruptly came to light in this sensitive man: his propensity for mystic piety &, his uncompromising love of justice that made him withstand the hedging of routine policies even less. In 1467, he left his family with the intention to settle in Alsace – a citadel for the mystics of the early Middle Ages. But by Liestal he was homesick to the point that he turned back, inspired by a vision that came to him in a dream. He stayed several weeks in complete solitude in the Melchtal mountains. Then, obeying a second vision, he decided to live as a hermit in Ranft, a land that belonged to his family. It was in this retreat that he spent the last twenty years of his life, practicing strict ascetics. Legend has it that he did not feed himself throughout his life as an anchorite.The hermitic mission of Brother Klaus was both remarkably open to the world and impregnated with holy mysticism. This solitary figure enjoyed the special consideration of the Lucerne government who frequently inquired after his opinion in political matters.